Neville Gallimore – March 15, 2024
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Friday, March 15, 2024
DT Neville Gallimore
(Why were the Dolphins the right choice for you now?) – “They just bring a lot to the table. I saw the DTs that had a lot of success here and I was just looking for an opportunity to follow that train.”
(What do you know about the Ravens scheme? Because obviously Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver is going to kind of install a Ravens-like scheme. How does that align with your strengths?) – “As you can see, the amount of success that they had last year, those guys are very effective. They were just playing at a high level. So I feel like bringing that here is going to bring a lot. I’m just looking forward to the opportunity to learn and just see that success that he’s had over there translate over here with the group of guys that we have here.”
(What can you tell us about Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark?) – “I know all in all, he’s a great guy. High intensity coach. Just through guys that he’s coached, he competes at a high level. Whenever you have a d-line coach like that, those are usually the guys who demand the most out of their players. So just looking forward to that opportunity. Obviously you can see what he’s done with the group of guys he’s had. And I’m just looking forward to that opportunity to grow and develop with him as well.”
(I wanted to follow up on that question about Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark. When it came out that you were signing with the Dolphins, it was reported that you trained with Austin Clark. Can you tell us a little more about your relationship with him?) – “Yeah, absolutely. In the d-line world, Coach Pete Jenkins, all those guys, they’re fantastic. And again, just seeing what he’s done and the caliber of guys, the amount of players that spoke so highly of him, and just getting an opportunity to be in the same presence at this point of time was great. Obviously we spoke very little, but just to see the amount of guys that were raving on and on about him, I knew if the opportunity presented himself, he was going to do his best to get whoever he had in his room right. We’re here and thankfully getting the opportunity to do so.”
(Obviously there’s been a lot of turnover on the defensive line with the Dolphins. I was curious for you personally, where do you feel most comfortable playing? Is it three technique? Zero? Shade?) – “The beauty of it is Coach Clark and as well as the rest of the staff, obviously that’s what makes them great, right? I know they are going to find a fit that’s perfect for me. And really, I’m just coming with the mindset ready to work, ready to learn, ready to grow and ready to be where they see best fit. I couldn’t tell you right there, couldn’t tell you off rip, but we’ll see as the season progresses.”
(Recovering from injury, you had the elbow injury. I want to know about the mental side of recovering from the injury and the isolation part of it. You’re not really around the team. How do you deal with that? What keeps you going? What gets you through what I think is probably a fairly dark time?) – “The beauty of it is it’s been two years since that. As a competitor, if you love this game, you never want to be away from it. But even thankfully going through that experience, I had a great group of guys that even though I’m here, you have such a strong relationship. I feel like it’s kind of what comes with it. You devote your life to this game, it’s going to come with some bruises, it’s going to come with some pain, but I feel like if anything, that’s what’s driven me to take it another step further. It’s helped me to understand the value of taking care of your body and not taking things for granted. I feel like with that, it’s allowed me to be tougher and really just made me approach the game with another level of respect. So yes, it was tough, but I feel like when tough times like that happen, the benefit of having a great team – I got to give a major shoutout to my wife because she played a major role in helping me overcome, and just understand even with that happening, there’s so much more work to be done. I still knew I had a lot to give. It was just a major but minor stepping stone. We give God thanks because we’re in this position now and are still able to keep pushing forward. That happened two years ago and I’m about to enter year five, so it’s a blessing. It was a minor setback, but we were still able to build.”
(What attracted you to the Dolphins? I know opportunity and money are usually a big thing in the NFL. Did Head Coach Mike McDaniel play a role? Did Defensive Line Coach Austin Clark play a role? You’re on another team with no state income tax like in Dallas. Did the weather play a role? What were the factors aside from opportunity and money?) – “It goes back to the fact that I love this game and I know that there is a level that I aspire to get to. When you sit back, there is no fluke. It doesn’t matter what team you play for. You saw the impact that this team has had when it comes to developing d-linemen. You saw the success they had. You’ve seen guys really be able to take care of their family and you just see that every d-lineman that has played here under this staff played with a chip on their shoulder. They’ve brought a lot to the table. I was just looking forward to the opportunity to grow my game and take it to another level. That’s why when the opportunity presented itself, it felt right. It felt like what I needed and I felt like with this team, there will be a lot of work that will be able to get done.”
(I know you grew up in Ottawa, so I’m wondering if you played any hockey growing up, and at which point did it become strictly football?) – “I wish I would’ve gotten the chance to play hockey. I just wasn’t the best skater. Ice skating and me, we just didn’t match. But I was always a fan of football. And really I was just a fan of you get to put your hands on somebody and not get in trouble for it. It really just helped with the mental as a kid. When I started playing football, when I saw it as an opportunity to get school taken care of, that was kind of the first and major mission. Obviously you have aspirations to go to the NFL. It was kind of unheard of being from where I’m from, but God has a way of working things out. It’s just exciting that we’re in the position we’re in now.”
(Are you tight with S Jevon Holland?) – “Jevon, I got the chance to shake hand, and he beat me in air hockey in Vegas. (laughter) I don’t really know him personally. But I’m looking forward to the opportunity to be around him. I want to say he’s from the (Vancouver) area. It goes to show the level of football, the level of guys that are in Canada. I got the chance to hang with Chase Claypool at the Senior Bowl. Both great guys. Both are guys that are hungry. It’s always exciting to see guys come from similar backgrounds, just all of us being Canadian and having our dreams come true. Seeing all of those guys compete, and seeing the success they’ve had, I’m just looking forward to the opportunity to add to that.“
